Book Review: Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love. 

My Thoughts...

    Last Christmas vacation, I read a book called A Fault in Our Stars. My favorite character, and also the main character of the book was Hazel Grave Lancaster. She was a sixteen-year-old American girl who had cancer in her lungs. Since that time she thought everything was the side effect of dying. Once in the support group she met two teenagers who were called Isaac and Augustus. Augustus had had one leg amputate.  After the support group, Augustus invited Hazel to his home and had a long onversation. Hazel recommended her favorite book,  An Imperial Affliction to Augustus, but this was an incomplete book. Then, the whole story commences about the book. They had a special experience about different people, love and death. Hazel underwent her most beautiful sixteenth year.  

        Why Hazel is my favorite character? At first, I just simply felt compassionate about Hazel. But then I found that she was wise to some extent. For the world she lived in, she had her own understanding. And I like her understanding even if it seems a little bit weird. For example, she said, 'almost everything is a side effect of dying'. I thought she was right. Some of the cancer people thought only cancer people could understand cancer people. I think that is a side effort of dying, too. They are utterly wrong. The thing that made them think we couldn't communicate is their cancer, and that their death may come early, but actually people's fear of death is the same. So I think we can understand them if they don't refuse. One of the reasons I liked Hazel is she didn't always care about cancer. She seldom thought something like' I'm cancerous person, so I can't……'. In the book I found  I liked her love of family and friends, her temperament, and her hobby. She never discarded herself.  She liked reading books. I  laughed when she dressed like the main character in her favorite book to meet the author—— it seems a little bit idiotic isn't it? But that is exactly what I used to do too. Maybe we are the same to some extent... When she became my favorite character was when Augustus's cancer suddenly relapsed, but asked her not to call 911. I couldn't be calm when my best love suffered from bad pain, but Hazel did. She called 911 in spite of Augustus saying he would never forgive her if she did that. Then she grabbed his face in her hand, and said,' I love you.'  I was really moved at that moment, before the ambulance found them. Hazel stopped Augustus from shirking, and forced both of them to face the truth. At that time I know how strong she was. She didn’t panic, or cry. Since then I have to confess I admired her.

        I was so grateful that Hazel could become acquainted with Augustus and full in love with him in her lifetime. I was so grateful that I could get acquainted Hazel, too. She changed my thinking about cancer and cancerous people. She showed me what love in youth looked like. What's more, she gave me a new impression of life and death. I hope more and more people could share this special journey with me. Perhaps we may get different understanding and draw different conclusion, but trust me please. This is something that shouldn't be missed. 

       

-Lily

Book Review: a Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle

It was a dark and stormy night; Meg Murry, her small brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had come down to the kitchen for a midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing stranger.

"Wild nights are my glory," the unearthly stranger told them. "I just got caught in a downdraft and blown off course. Let me be on my way. Speaking of way, by the way, there is such a thing as a tesseract".

Meg's father had been experimenting with this fifth dimension of time travel when he mysteriously disappeared. Now the time has come for Meg, her friend Calvin, and Charles Wallace to rescue him. But can they outwit the forces of evil they will encounter on their heart-stopping journey through space? 

My Thoughts...

The book "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L'Engle is about the adventure of siblings Meg and Charles Wallace Murry and their classmate Calvin O'Keefe in which they try to rescue Meg and Charles's father. It is an exciting science fiction novel that was first published back in 1962.  Since 1962, the book has been made into a television series, movie, play, opera and graphic novel.

After a troubled girl named Meg and her five-year old genius brother Charles Wallace's father mysteriously disappears while experimenting with the tesseract, they are joined by three immortal creatures, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs Who, and Mrs. Which, alongside Meg's classmate Calvin O'Keefe to help save him. Due to the fact that their father is being imprisoned on another planet, the three Mrs. W's transport Meg, Charles and Calvin to the planet of Camazotz where they must take on the evil leader "IT".

Although "IT" is a giant disembodied brain, "IT" is much smarter than Charles Wallace and soon possesses Charles and makes him into a robot-like creature.  What had started as a rescue mission for Meg and Charles's father turns into a rescue mission for Charles too.  This book ends in a way one must only read!

Not being a very big reader, I was lost trying to choose a book for my ISP.  I was very glad Mrs. G. recommended to me "A Wrinkle in Time".  The book is interesting, easy to read and unique.  After reading this book, I have no complaints and would definitely recommend it to anyone.

-Matthew

Book Review: A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers

The first book in the bestselling Mark of the Lion series, A Voice in the Wind brings readers back to the first century and introduces them to a character they will never forget—Hadassah. Torn by her love for a handsome aristocrat, this young slave girl clings to her faith in the living God for deliverance from the forces of decadent Rome.

My Thoughts...

I have taken ages to finally get these books and pick them up; I truly do not know why I have not read them before now. A beautifully written book that is I describe in so many ways, A Voice in the Wind remains favourites of so many Christian readers. Following the life of the slave girl named Hadassah, readers will get a picture of why Christians are here on this earth, and their purpose. Readers will also recieve a renewed view on their faith and dwell on questions that every Christian should wrestle with. The events that unfold are captivating with encounters that will change hundreds of lives. Words are not adequate to describe how powerful this book is; it is truly a prized pairing from beginning to end. 

Hadassah is now one of my favourite characters I have ever read about. Her morales, her servitude, and her trust in the Lord never failed to leave me in awe. She trusted the Lord with all of her heart and put her faith in Him until the very end of the book. Every Chrstian reader needs this book to reflect on their own beliefs, and learning to put their faith in the Lord when troubles come. 

-ShewolfLia17

Book Review: Beguiled by Deeanne Gist

Rylee Monroe walks dogs in old-money Charleston, a part of the city recently targeted by a daring thief. Logan Woods works the crime beat for the local paper but dreams of a life as a nonfiction writer. When the string of robberies takes a strange twist, Logan sees the making of a once-in-a-lifetime book that seems to circle around this charming, eye-catching dogwalker. But pursuing the truth means ignoring that he seems to be falling for her. And what is she hiding in her past that could crack the story wide open?

My Thoughts...

Veering off into a different path of reading, I did not know what to expect when cracking open a mystery romance novel. I was interested in the first few chapters, and soon after to my disapointement, discovered that I had just turned the last page. This was my first Deeanne Gist book and also my first J. Mark Bertrand, so I curiously read this short novel. It was a lukewarm read, not too romantic, not too action packed. It had suspense and a sense of curiousness, but did not seem like a heavy book. The characters are somewhat developed, but lacked extra depth, like a drawing that is 2D, but not as good as 3D. I adored the dog walking as it was different and the lavish setting of the flapper era. The ending was also a bit much, and rushed to conclusions in the last few pages. These pages build up anticipation for the ending, but seemed overdone. Beguiled is an enjoyable, but not demanding book. Even non mystery lovers will read this one!

-ShewolfLia17

Book Review: Chasing Jupiter by Rachel Coker

Scarlett Blaine's life in 1960s Georgia isn't always easy, especially given her parents' financial struggles and the fights surrounding her sister Juli's hippie lifestyle. Then there's her brother, Cliff. While Scarlett loves him more than anything, there's no denying his unique behavior leaves Cliff misunderstood and left out. So when he wishes for a rocket to Jupiter, Scarlett agrees to make it happen, no matter how crazy the idea might be. Raising the rocket money means baking pies, and the farmer's son, Frank, agrees to provide the peaches if Scarlett will help him talk to Juli. The problem is, Scarlett really enjoys her time with Frank, and finds herself wondering if, someday, they could be more than friends. Just as she thinks everything might be going her way, Cliff suffers an accident that not only affects the rocket plans, but shakes Scarlett's view of God. As the summer comes to an end, Scarlett must find a way to regain what she's lost, but also fulfill a promise to launch her brother's dream

My Thoughts...

Another marvelous read by a brilliant author, Rachel Coker brings creativity to life! I ran to the second book after finishing Interrupted, and devoured it in a day or so. Personally, I thought this book gets better than the first. From the first page, I knew this book would be different than all other formulaic books I have encountered, and was anticipating the plot. Each character has weird quirks that would sometimes irritate the other characters to no end; not one character had a lack of depth to them. Every chapter uncased new and creative events that made this story one of a kind. This novel goes through each problem and success with ease and a sense of  energy that possesses the plot. The ending was nothing what I had expected, and had a bit of difficulty getting through the ending. The story had the perfect amount of emotion and lots of action, a fantastic novel that turns the everyday life into weird and real events that will forever change ones life.

-ShewolfLia17

Book Review: Interrupted by Rachel Coker

Can love really heal all things? If Sam Carroll hadn't shown up, she might have been able to get to her mother in time. Instead, Allie Everly finds herself at a funeral, mourning the loss of her beloved mother. She is dealt another blow when, a few hours later, she is sent from Tennessee to Maine to become the daughter of Miss Beatrice Lovell, a prim woman with a faith Allie cannot accept. Poetry and letters written to her mother become the only things keeping Allie s heart from hardening completely. But then Sam arrives for the summer, and with him comes many confusing emotions, both toward him and the people around her. As World War II looms, Allie will be forced to decide whether hanging on to the past is worth losing her chance to be loved."

My Thoughts...

Interrupted is quite the novel for an author who was fourteen when she wrote it. The entire plot grabbed my attention and had me flipping the pages near the end. In the first few chapters though, the plot is slow and a bit too drawn out. The main character's mother seems a bit more sick than what the readers knew. The fact that it is in the 1940s makes it doubly more interesting. The main character, Allie, is a times, too annoying to cooperate with. She is stubborn and thinks she knows what is best for her, and these traits were written into her character most of the time easily. Sometimes she would go a bit overboard with her emotions and constantly chooses what she thinks is best. In the second half of the book, most readers might get a bit tired by Allie's refusal of love and Sam's attempts to get her attention. She seems too oblivious to the fact that someone like her can be loved. Sam Carroll was so nice and always happy. Even though at times one might think he would be too happy, there are others who are like that in real life! The ending was sweet and perfect with a touch that is hard to master; Rachel Coker did it perfectly.

-ShewolfLia17

Book Review: Love, Charleston by Beth Webb Hart

Charleston's past is full of romance. Does Anne's future hold the same?

Charleston's Anne Brumley has long dreamed of love while ringing the bells at St. Michael's, but those dreams are beginning to fade. Her sister Alisha and cousin Della encourage the thirty-six year old to move somewhere new for a fresh start.

Widower Roy Summerall has happily ministered to the country folks of Church of the Good Shepherd for years. So why would the Lord call him and his daughter away to Charleston--the city that Roy remembers from his childhood as pretentious and superficial? Surely the refined congregation of St. Michael's won't accept a reverend with a red neck and a simple faith.

Meanwhile, Anne's sister, Alisha, struggles with her husband's ambition, which seems to be taking him further from their dreams of a happy family. And Cousin Della's former fiance has returned to Charleston, making her wonder if she chose the wrong path when she married her gifted but unemployed-artist husband.

Family, friendship, and faith converge in a beautiful story about how God's transforming love works in the Holy City of Charleston. 

My Thoughts...

A story that starts off differently than the back description, the tale of three women take the stage, and learn through their struggles, mistakes, and helping others through patchy ground. This tale rook a look at multiple subjects, but unfortunately readers did not not connect with the characters because of the large time span between events. Thee are two narrators and at times, one might get confused with who is speaking. But the scenes with Roy and Anne were magical in that they had so much in common that they did not need to try to have a firm relationship. Those scenes with them were the highlight of the book whereas some others are not as wel, written and a bit harsh. Loos after loss falls upon a character and at times, seems like too much, and that the author is trying to get across the point that the character is struggling and seemed to have it all together. The scenes would have had much more impact than more drama and grief.

Every reader will be taken on this journey through the well known Charleston, experiencing all three of the women's stories with different thoughts. Love, Charleston is a very light read that may not be deeply impacting, but motivate you to get through exceptionally hard struggles and habits in life.

-ShewolfLia17